It is 100 years since a huge Zeppelin airship struck fear into Rossendalians in a night-time raid that dropped 12 bombs on the Valley.

On the evening of September 25, 1916, the German Zeppelin L21, commanded by Obeleutnant Kurt Frankenburg, was spotted off the coast of Lincolnshire before it headed over Yorkshire and into Lancashire, where it followed the tracks of the East Lancashire Railway line along the Rossendale Valley.

The 179-metre-long “cigar-shaped engine of death” - as it was popularly called - was witnessed over Lumb, Rawtenstall, Ewood Bridge, Stonefold, Haslingden, Helmshore, Holcombe and Ramsbottom.

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So far none of the bombs had caused serious damage or any injuries, but as the L21 travelled over the Valley towards Ramsbottom Frankenburg released five explosive and two incendiary bombs at Ewood Bridge, which destroyed a section of rail from the East Lancashire Railway track near Irwell Vale Bridge. Bombs cratered around Irwell Vale and Lumb.

Five successive bombs then fell in quick succession on the village of Holcombe, with one hitting Emmanuel Holcombe CE Primary School.

Frankenburg then circled the area and moved over Holcombe Brook and Greenmount where he dropped a further two incendiary bombs and then moved onto towards Bolton.

The course of the Zeppelin over the Valley on September 25, 1916

In the press at the time there was very little printed about the raid as the War Office wanted to keep the destination secret to misinform the enemy.

The article in the Free Press covering the Rossendale raids located them in the ‘North Midland districts’.

It reported: “The flight of the bombs could be clearly discerned as they fell to earth, followed in many cases by tremendous explosions.

"The concussions shook the houses, and some who had not previously been aware of the proximity of the raider were awakened from sleep by the noise of the explosion, the violent rattling of the windows and the vibration of the buildings.

Clippings from the Rossendale Free Press about the bombing raids in 1916

“In a very short time many hundreds of people were in the dark streets. Those who were out quick enough saw the passing of the Zeppelin and the firey streak of the falling bombs.

“There was no sign of panic or fear. These north-midland districts are not inured to Zeppelin raids, as say the districts of the East coast, but they stood the experience quietly and well.”

One of the only victims of the bombing raid - an unlucky thrush - was preserved and displayed in Emmanuel Holcombe Primary.